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MULTIPLE PURPOSE SPEED CONTROL VALVE CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 17. 1961 2Sheets-Sheet 2 FE E v INVENTOR.

14212?! K. lrkz'xqg. y j [aw-z United States Patent 3,126,795 MULTIPLEPURPOSE SPEED CONTROL VALVE CUNSTRUCTION Walter C. Kesselring, Detroit,Mich., assignor to Ross Operating Valve Company, Detroit, Mich., acorporation of Michigan Filed Nov. 17, 1961, Ser. No. 153,166 2 Claims.(Cl. 91443) This invention relates to industrial control valves, andmore particularly to speed control valve units in which the rate of flowof a fluid to and/ or from a fluid motor may be timed.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a novel and improvedmultiple purpose speed control valve construction usable to time thefluid flow rate in either one or both directions with respect to a fluidmotor.

It is another object to provide an improved multiple purpose speedcontrol valve unit of this nature which is capable of use in conjunctionwith an additional element intended to form a chamber of substantialvolume between the fluid motor and the metering valve element, thuscontributing to the reliability of the metering valve setting.

It is also an object, in one form of the invention, to provide a noveland improved reversible speed control valve unit which may be utilizedto time the fluid flow rate in one direction with respect to a fluidmotor, permitting the flow in the other direction to be unrestricted,the valve being capable of assembly with other portions of the fluidsystem and being easily reversible between timed-in and timed-outpositions.

It is a further object, in this form of the invention, to provide animproved speed control valve unit having the above characteristics, inwhich two such valve units may be used in stacked relation to provideboth a timedin and a timed-out fluid flow condition, the flow rate ineach direction being independently adjustable.

It is another object to provide an improved speed control valve unit ofthis nature which is inexpensive to construct and requires littlemaintenance.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the subsequent description, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, partly in cross section, showingthe exterior of one form of the unit as part of an assembly which alsoincludes a fluid motor, a volume element and a signal port element;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the body of the valve unit, parts beingremoved;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2and showing the unit with the check valve in the body;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 2and showing the metering valve in the body;

FIGURE 5 is a partly sectioned side elevational view of another assemblyvariation, utilizing two speed control valve units constructed inaccordance with the invention and in stacked relation so as to provideboth timed-in and timed-out flow with respect to the fluid motor;

FIGURE 6 is a schematic flow diagram of the assembly of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is an exterior View in elevation of another form of theinvention which combines the structures of the two units of FIGURE 5 anda volume element into a single integral unit; and

FIGURE 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view in elevation taken alongthe line 88 of FIGURE 7 but with the relative positions of the partsshifted for clarity and showing the internal construction.

In general terms, the first illustrated embodiment of the inventioncomprises a body having flat upper and lower surfaces and adapted to bemounted directly on a fluid motor such as a piston and cylinder whichoperates a main valve, or a nested relation between said fluid motor anda pilot valve. The body has an apertured portion extending between itsflat surfaces in which is mounted a check valve permitting unrestrictedflow in one direction between the surfaces but preventing flow in theopposite direction. A metering valve is also carried by the body, in theform of a screw-adjustable needle valve mounted in an apertured portionof the body extending parallel to and between the flat surfaces, withpassages connecting the opposite ends of the needle valve to thesurfaces. The unit may be mounted with either flat surface facing thefluid motor, thus providing either timed-in or timed-out fluid flow.

Because of its novel configuration, the unit may be used in conjunctionwith a volume element of like size and having flat surfaces, the Volumeelement being placed in nested relation between the speed control unitand the fluid motor. This volume makes possible increased accuracy forthe metering valve setting. Two units constructed in accordance with theprinciples of this embodiment of the invention may be stacked in reversepositions on the fluid motor, thus providing both timed-in and timed-outfluid flow with the timing in each direction being independentlyadjustable.

In another form of the invention, an integral unit is provided combiningthe elements of two stacked units constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the first embodiment of the invention, and alsoincorporating a volume element in the integral construction.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the speed control unit ofthe first embodiment is generally indicated at 11 and is shown in FIGURE1 as being mounted on a fluid motor generally indicated at 12. The fluidmotor comprises a cylinder 13 and a piston 14, the piston being urgedupwardly by means (not shown) and being capable of downward movementunder the influence of pressure in chamber 15 which is opened toward theflat cylinder top.

Unit 11 comprises a body 16 of generally circular shape and having anannular flat upper surface 17 and an annular flat lower surface 18, thediameter of body 16 being substantially the same as that of the fluidmotor on which it is to be mounted. A plurality of apertured bosses 19are provided around the periphery of body 16 for the reception ofassembly bolts 20. As seen in FIG- URE 1, the exterior surface of body16 may be provided with the legend timed-out with an arrow pointingtoward a mark 21 connecting surfaces 17 and 18, and another legend,timed-in having an arrow pointing to another mark 22, the two legendsbeing inverted with respect to each other and marks 21 and 22 being incircumerentially spaced relation by about A check valve 23 is carried bybody 16 within an apertured portion 24 thereof which extends betweensurfaces 17 and 18. Valve 23 is engageable with a valve seat 25 at theend of apertured portion 24 adjacent surface 17, being urged againstthis seat by a helical spring 26, the other end of this spring beingsupported by a retaining member 27 having apertures 28 for the passageof fluid. Valve 23 will thus permit unrestricted fluid flow from surface17 to surface 18, but will not permit fluid flow in the oppositedirection.

A metering valve 29 is also mounted in body 16, this valve having aneedle stem 31 disposed within an elongated hollow insert 32 carried bya portion 33 of body 16. Metering valve 29 extends in parallel relationbetween surfaces 17 and 18, and has a threaded outer end 34 mountedwithin a threaded portion 35 of body 16, the

outer end 36 of portion 34 being accessible from the outside of the unitfor adjustment purposes. A space or passage 37 is formed in body 16between surface 18 and the outer end 38 of insert 32. A passage 39extends from the outer end 41 of insert 32 to surface 17. A first seal42 is carried by valve 2-9 between passage 39 and threaded portion 34,and a second seal 43 is carried by insert 32. By adjusting the positionof tapered needle 31 within insert 32 by means of rotation of valve 20,the rate of flow of fluid between passages 37 and 39 may be adjusted.

FIGURE 1 shows unit 11 mounted in conjunction with a volume element 44,the latter comprising a circular body of the same diameter as body 16having flat end surfaces with a chamber 45 extending therebetween. Thepurpose of element 44 is to insure that a substantial volume of fluidconnected to chamber 15 must pass through metering valve 2?, whether thevalve is in the timed-in or timed-out position. Valve 29 may thus beadjusted with greater accuracy. The reason the substantial volume mustbe connected on the side adjacent motor 14, rather than on the otherside of unit 1 1, is because it is the movement of motor 14 which is tobe time-controlled. By providing a separate element 44 as the volumeelement, the overall thickness of unit 11 may be made relatively small,and the volume will always be in the proper position regardless of theposition of unit 11.

FIGURE 1 also shows a cap 46 mounted on unit 11 and having a signal port47 connected to a three-way valve (not shown). Alternatively, athree-way pilot valve, whether power or manually actuated, could bemounted directly on unit 11 in place of cap 46.

In operation, with the unit in its timed-out position as shown in FIGURE1, application of fluid pressure to port 47 will cause the fluid toshift check valve 23 downwardly away from its seat 25, the fluid flowingimmediately through apertures 28 in retaining member 27 and into chamber15 of motor 12 through volume element 44. Piston 14 will thus be shiftedrapidly to its downward position.

Upon connection of part 47 to exhaust, fluid will flow from chamber 15through volume element 44, passage 37, insert 32 (past needle 31) andpassage 39 to port 47. The fluid flow will thus be controlled by theposit-ion of metering valve 29 and the upward movement of piston 14timed accordingly. The fluid pressure will hold check valve 23 in itsclosed position.

When it is desired to have piston 14 move downwardly in atime-controlled manner but move upwardly at a rapid rate, unit 11 may bereversed so that surface 18 is above and surface 17 below, the legendtimed-in being in upright position with mark 22 being aligned with marks48 and 49 on cap 46 and volume element 44 respectively. The purpose ofproviding these marks is to insure that the elongated bolt receivingapertures 51, seen in FIGURE 2, will be properly positioned regardlessof the inversion of unit 11.

The operation of unit 11 in its inverted position may be envisioned byconsidering FIGURES 3 and 4 as being inverted. Application of fluidpressure to signal port 47 will cause fluid to pass through passage 37,through insert 32, past needle 31 and through passage 39 to volumeelement 44 and chamber 15. This will cause downward movement of piston14 at a rate dependent upon the setting of metering valve 29-, checkvalve 23 remaining closed.

The connection of port 47 to exhaust will permit rapid upward movementof piston v14, the fluid pressure being released directly through checkvalve 23-.

FIGURE shows two units 11a and 11b in stacked relation between a motor12 and a cap 46. Unit 11a is in its timed-in position, whereas unit 111)is in its timedout position. In this manner, piston 14 may betimecontrolled when moving in both directions, the time required for thetwo movements being independently adjustable. Proper means for fluidflow between units 11a, 11!; may of course be provided, either by gasketpassages or by recesses within surfaces 17 and 18 such as those seen inFIGURE 2. A volume element 44 could be disposed between unit 11a andmotor 12, and a pilot valve could be mounted on unit 1112 in place ofcap 46.

FIGURE 6 illustrates in schematic fashion the fluid flow relationship ofthe assembly of FIGURE 5. The three-way signal valve is indicated at 52in this figure.

FIGURES 7 and 8 illustrate another embodiment of the invention in whichthe elements of the two units 11a and 11b in FIGURE 5 are combined in anintegral unit, the equivalent of a volume element 44 also being combinedin the integral construction. The unit is generally indicated at 101 andcomprises a body 102 having a flat upper surface 103 and a flatundersurface 104. A recess indicated at 105 extends upwardly fromundersurface 10 4, thus forming a volume equivalent to that of volumeelement 44 in the previous embodiment. A port 105' extends outwardlyfrom recess 105 and is connectable to a larger volume (not shown) incases where volume 105 is insuflicient to achieve the required timedelay. A timed-in needle 106 and a timed-out needle 107 are threadablymounted in body 102, the needles being in spaced parallel relation andparallel to the upper and lower surfaces of the body.

A signal port 108 extends downwardly from surface 103, a check valve 109being mounted at the lower end of port 108, the check valve beingdisposed so as to permit fluid flow only from a passage 111 below port108 to port 10 8, but prohibiting fluid flow from port 108 to passage111.

The inner end of needle 106 is disposed within one end of a hollowinsert 112, the other end of this insert being connected to port 108. Apassage 113 leads from the end of insert 112 surrounding needle 106 to acheck valve 114, this check valve being so disposed as to permit fluidflow from insert 112 to volume recess 105, but prohibiting fluid flowfrom volume 105 to insert 112. Spiral wire springs 115 are provided forretaining check valves 109 and 114 in position and urging them againsttheir respective seats. Chamber 105 is of course connectable to chamber15 of fluid motor 12 mounted beneath unit 101. Schematic passage 116 inFIGURE 8 indicates the fact that recess 105 extends to the bottom ofhousing 102.

The inner end of needle 107 is disposed within one end of an insert 117within body 102, the other end of this insert being connected to passage111. The end of insert 117 which receives needle 107 has a passage 118con necting it with chamber 105.

The operation of the embodiment of FIGURES 7 and 8 will be similar tothat of units 11a and 11b in FIG- URE 5. When signal pressure is appliedto port 108, assuming that needle 106 is set in a restricted position,fluid will flow through insert 112, past needle 106, through passage113, check valve 114, and chamber 105 to chamber 15. When signal port108 is connected to exhaust, fluid will flow through passageway 118,past needle 107, through insert 117, passage 111 and check valve 109 toport 108. Of course, either or both needles 106 and 107 may be set in anunrestricted position, so that the flow will not be timed by suchneedle.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments of theinvention disclosed are well calculated to fulfill the objects abovestated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible tomodification, variation and change without departing from the properscope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a speed control valve unit for use in conjunction with a fluidmotor piston having a cylinder of predetermined outside end diameter, abody of substantially the same outside diameter as the cylinder outsideend diameter and having oppositely disposed flat parallel surfaces, apassage connecting said surfaces, a check valve mounted in said passageand permitting unrestricted fluid flow in one direction While preventingfluid flow in the opposite direction, a metering valve comprising a stemadjustably mounted in said body and extending parallel to and betweensaid surfaces, and passages connecting opposite sides of said meteringvalve to said opposite surfaces.

2. In a speed control valve unit for use in conjunction with a fluidmotor piston having a cylinder of predetermined outside end diameter, abody of substantially the same outside diameter as the cylinder outsideend diameter and having oppositely disposed fiat parallel surfaces, apassage connecting said surfaces, a check valve mounted in said passageand permitting unrestricted fluid flow in one direction while preventingfluid flow in the opposite direction, a metering valve comprising a stemadjustably mounted in said body and extending parallel to and betweensaid surfaces, passages connecting opposite sides of said metering valveto said opposite surfaces, and a volume element comprising a body havingsubstantially the same outside diameter as said cylinder and unit andoppositely disposed parallel surfaces with a chamber connecting saidsurfaces, said volume element and unit being disposable in stackedrelation on said cylinder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS840,876 Steedman Jan. 8, 1907 1,865,913 Hynes July 5, 1932 2,262,432Rodder et a1. Nov. 11, 1941 2,382,457 Wertman et a1. Aug. 14, 19452,652,732 Frye Sept. 22, 1953 2,669,972 Cross Feb. 23, 1954

2. IN A SPEED CONTROL VALVE UNIT FOR USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH A FLUIDMOTOR PISTON HAVING A CYLINDER OF PREDETERMINED OUTSIDE END DIAMETER, ABODY OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME OUTSIDE DIAMETER AS THE CYLINDER OUTSIDEEND DIAMETER AND HAVING OPPOSITELY DISPOSED FLAT PARALLEL SURFACES, APASSAGE CONNECTING SAID SURFACES, A CHECK VALVE MOUNTED IN SAID PASSAGEAND PERMITTING UNRESTRICTED FLUID FLOW IN ONE DIRECTION WHILE PREVENTINGFLUID FLOW IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, A METERING VALVE COMPRISING A STEMADJUSTABLY MOUNTED IN SAID BODY AND EXTENDING PARALLEL TO AND BETWEENSAID SURFACES, PASSAGES CONNECTING OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID METERING VALVETO SAID OPPOSITE SURFACES, AND A VOLUME ELEMENT COMPRISING A BODY HAVINGSUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME OUTSIDE DIAMETER AS SAID CYLINDER AND UNIT ANDOPPOSITELY DISPOSED PARALLEL SURFACES WITH A CHAMBER CONNECTING SAIDSURFACES, SAID VOLUME ELEMENT AND UNIT BEING DISPOSABLE IN STACKEDRELATION ON SAID CYLINDER.